Q: How can I be sure that I am treating people with disabilities with respect? I always worry I will say the wrong thing.
A: I really appreciate your question and think it is always important to remind ourselves not to stereotype people with disabilities or make assumptions about them. I have a friend, Carol Leish, who is a motivational speaker on the topic of living with a disability and focusing on the strengths that people with disabilities have. I interviewed Carol to learn more about her perspective on how we can all be mindful to treat people with disabilities with respect.
Carol explained that she started motivational speaking years ago because she was tired of people making assumptions about her. She states “awareness is the first step to eradicating prejudice towards those with disabilities, like me. I like to say that: ‘We are all more similar than different.”
When asked how she feels people with a disability are treating differently, Carol responded “In general, I think that people with disabilities, like me, get treated as if they have more problems than they do. For instance, since one of my challenges affects my voice, people may automatically assume that my intellect is affected. However, I am proud to say that I have an MA in Education from CSU San Bernardino.”
In my work at Senior Concerns, I often meet people with all types of disabilities, including physical and cognitive. I have learned from experience to always treat and speak to everyone the same way. You can certainly ask if they need any accommodation, but do not assume for them. Allow them or their care partner to direct you if anything different is needed.
When asked about her challenges, Carol stated “The first challenge that I can think of is that I fatigue easily due to having visual challenges. Thus, I do not want people to assume I’m not interested in an event because of having to leave early. I also do not want people thinking that I am being lazy.”
Everyone deserves to be treated with the same respect. Carol comments, “I would appreciate people knowing that even with physical and emotional challenges, I still have dreams, hopes, and desires like everyone else.”
The truth is that at some point in time we may all have a disability, even if it is temporary. Even older adults often get treated differently simply for their age and how they look. Yet everyone has capabilities, ideas, contributions and feelings that deserve to be recognized.
Carol says “I would like to emphasize that I focus more on my capabilities than my disabilities. I also want to say that ‘we are all more similar than different’.” For further information please look at my website at: www.capablecarol.com”.
Carol is a great role model for how we should look to treat others and ask to be treated ourselves. She introduced me to a quote by Helen Keller that says, “The richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome.”
Let us look at the community around us and see a richness of human experience that makes our community all the better.
Martha Shapiro can be reached at Senior Concerns at 805-497-0189 or by email at mshapiro@seniorconcerns.org.
